Urgent care is a medical facility that allows patients to see a doctor without waiting several days or weeks for an appointment with their regular provider. Emergency rooms are for people with severe medical problems who need immediate and advanced treatment. Here is how you can save time by knowing whether you should go to the emergency room or urgent care.
When to Visit Immediate Care Centers in Downers Grove, IL
Urgent care is a great place to go when you have urgent medical conditions that require simple tests and treatments. An urgent care visit is often less expensive. You can go to urgent care if you have symptoms like:
- Abdominal pain
- Ankle and wrist sprains
- Mild to moderate flu symptoms
- Small cuts and wounds
- Mild to moderate skin infections
- A rash that is not accompanied by a fever
- Vomiting, nausea and diarrhea that won’t go away
When to Visit the Emergency Room
Emergency room visits are necessary when symptoms are severe and need advanced treatments that urgent care facilities can not provide. Some symptoms that require a visit to the emergency room are:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Head injuries
- Broken bones and dislocated joints
- A fever with a rash
- Severe cuts, burns and wounds
- Seizures
- Pregnancy complications like vaginal bleeding
For more information about immediate care centers in Downers Grove, IL, contact North American Emergency Medical Center.